HC Deb 25 April 1961 vol 639 c211
11. Mrs. Hart

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will recommend to the National Research and Development Corporation that it should consider the needs of areas of unemployment for new industry when investing in new industrial projects.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Niall Macpherson)

My right hon. Friend is asking the Corporation to bear this consideration in mind, although he thinks that in practice there is little scope for it to help.

Mrs. Hart

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the development announced in the recent Report of the National Research and Development Corporation on investing in a number of shares in a new company making printed electrical circuits was welcomed by very many who would like to see an extension of State enterprise in this direction, and that one would hope that the President of the Board of Trade, in putting forward this suggestion to the Corporation, would particularly emphasise the needs of Scotland, where there is a dearth of science-trade industries?

Mr. Macpherson

I am sure that that is one of the considerations which the National Research and Development Corporation will have in mind, although as the hon. Lady is clearly aware, most of its expenditure is development expenditure on a contract basis in collaboration with existing firms or research institutions.